Need help to put out your bonfire after Bonfire Night? This book that once belonged to Sir Isaac Newton could give some tips...or perhaps not. An Account of the New Method of Extinguishing Fires by Explosion and Suffocation. 1724 NQ.16.162 [2] lib-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Record/06e96...

How did medieval people treat an anal abscess? 🌹 John Arderne, a 15th-century English surgeon, relieved the pain with a suppository of oil of roses and raw egg yolk. This manuscript (@trincolllibcam.bsky.social , MS O.2.49) is on display at our Curious Cures exhibition. Tickets: loom.ly/kVqsPRY

Happy Halloween from the Wren Library, our Halloween Bat is courageously looking into this spooky hood. mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/B... f182v

Do you know a Year 12 student from a Black African, Caribbean or mixed race background who is thinking about applying to Cambridge? Target Oxbridge is a free mentoring programme that has helped over 500 students to secure Oxbridge offers. Apply at targetoxbridge.app.candidx.io/roles before 23 Nov.

Not only is it Friday, but the clocks go back on Sunday. Enjoy the extra hour....suggest not wearing a crown in bed. mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/B... #FridayVibes

Could this be him as a kitten? B.11.4 13th c Psalter written in a 'large and noble hand' according to M.R. James. mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/B...

The heron was posing in front of some tourist spots today (the He-Wren Library 😉), and then stalked over to have its portrait taken by Garret Hostel Bridge. @everyheron.bsky.social @trincolllibcam.bsky.social

⌛Time is running out for #CuriousCures! Don't miss your chance to see these fascinating medieval medical books and manuscripts, which are rarely on display together. 📍Open 6 Dec 2025 at the UL 🔗Book your FREE ticket: https://loom.ly/kVqsPRY#CuriousCures Image: @caiuscollege.bsky.social, MS 336/725

Ever wondered what stories lie behind Kew’s collections? 🌍 Today’s the day to find out – it’s #AskAnArchivist Day! Our archivists are here to answer your questions about rare books, explorers’ journals and the care of centuries-old plant records. Ask below 👇 #AskAnArchivist #KewArchives

Great news from @claire.m.l.bourne about Milton's Library. The Milton manuscript held in the Wren Library is available to see here: mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/R...

a tiny bit of good news is that we have secured funding to digitize john milton's copy of holinshed's CHRONICLES (1587). the images will form part of MILTON'S LIBRARY, an open-access site featuring the 10 books positively identified as milton's w/ transcriptions/translations of his marginal notes.

MSS B.1.20, Instead of manicules, the reader of this 13th c manuscript used tiny faces to mark interesting points in the text. #marginaliamonday mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/B...

Term has started and a quiet has settled on the library and the river. Don't forget to take a break and look out of the window. It's too beautiful to miss. #worldmentalhealthday

Our wonderful DVD collection has had some love already this term. Someone has made a start on watching them all...only 2828 to go. lib-filmcollection.trin.cam.ac.uk Look out for new ones being added every week.

Signing of the Admissions Books continues today in the Wren Library. Here's Isaac Newton's entry from 1667.

One of Trinity’s longest traditions is the annual signing of the Admissions Book. Today, 266 new students will inscribe their names in College history by signing the book themselves. ✍🏾 The images show poet Lord Alfred Tennyson’s entry from 1827, along with personal details written in his own hand.

”…that which we are, we are; One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” Ulysses 1833, by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Poet Laureate, died #OTD 1892. Trinity College Cambridge Chapel @trincolllibcam.bsky.social

To all those who are braving the weather to travel to Cambridge over the weekend. We are excited to be welcoming students for the new year. This image is from 13th c MSS B.11.4 mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/B...

🍂Michaelmas term starts this week! We’ve created a guide for new and returning University of Cambridge students, including online resources, top tips, skills training, tours, collections, and what’s new this term. https://loom.ly/EmsWxrs

Is it coffee time yet? MSS R.9.17 See the whole manuscript here: mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/R... #marginaliaMonday

Copy that Floppy Cafe 💾 📅Thursday 9 October, 2-5pm Come have your floppy disk data transferred to a modern format at Cambridge University Library! For more info and to book: https://loom.ly/FRjMsM8

1824: Had a visit from my friend Henderson of Milton who brought Don Juan in his Pocket. I was very ill & nursing my head in my hand but he reviv'd me & advised me to read Don Juan. We talked about books & flowers & butterflys till noon & then he descanted on Don Juan which he admird very much I...

Visiting the Wren Library for Open Cambridge this Saturday? Trainee Librarian Evie is here to show you how to get there from Great gate!☺️ The walk takes around 7 minutes.

Not in Cambridge? No problem! One of our newest exhibitions has been just been digitised. Featuring icons such as Lise Meitner, Mary Somerville and Émilie du Châtelet, "𝘐𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵: 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘍𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘻𝘦𝘳𝘴" can be found at this link: www.trin.cam.ac.uk/library/in-h...

For today’s #MarginaliaMonday, we’re heading back to 1686 with Isaac Newton’s own copy of 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪æ 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢. Filled with his handwritten notes, we can get a small glimpse into his mind.🧠

What better use for the back of a letter than to test out some new colours? These bright swatches were found in the correspondence of antiquary and botanist Dawson Turner (1775–1858). A little bit of colour living in a world of paper and ink.🎨

Philosophy bids you all good night Trinity College Cambridge, O.3.7; Boethius, De consolatione philosophiae, with commentary; last quarter of the 10th cent; Canterbury, St Augustine's Abbey; f.1r @trincolllibcam.bsky.social

Anyone else have that bank holiday Friday feeling? Time to kick back, relax and... play the flute?🎵 (Trinity College MS B.11.22)

Explore some of Cambridge’s iconic landmarks this September with Open Cambridge from ‪@cambridgefestival.bsky.social‬ 🎟️ Some events are hugely popular, so don't miss out – book your spot now: bit.ly/479qMiT #Cambridge #Tour #Explore #CambridgeUniversity

It started as a routine book move. Before we know it, it’s a modern art installation (or perhaps a minor safety concern). It's hard to say. #FoundArt

For this edition of #MarginaliaMonday, here’s a poor puppy stuck in a pot! Spotted in the margins of a 15th century manuscript, he’s clearly been caught in the middle of some questionable decision-making. (Trinity College MS B.1.46)

Happy birthday to Alfred Tennyson, born #OTD in 1809! Best known for his poetry, Tennyson was also a keen doodler. The Trinity alum drew this face in his notebook while drafting 𝘐𝘯 𝘔𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘮. (Trinity College MS, O.15.13)

Here's Trinity College Cambridge, within which @trincolllibcam.bsky.social can be found

Lise Meitner (1878-1968) was an Austrian physicist whose pioneering work led to the discovery of nuclear fission. Find out all about her story in our latest blog post! trinitycollegelibrarycambridge.wordpress.com/2025/08/01/s...

Good morning, friends. I've got a rather busy day, so I'm afraid I must be quick with the eel post. But don't worry, friends...I won't leave you eel-less. Please enjoy this wonderful interlinear eel and heron. Perhaps they're having a conversation about the evils of lightning. 🗃️🧪

A bad day at the printing press, London 1660. lib-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Record/fbfb3...

Another day, another ancient artefact...

Our new exhibition, '𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦!' investigates socialist anti-fascism and the anti-war movement from 1914-1939. Explore the history of the international socialist movement, from letters by Spanish Civil War martyr John Cornford to a first edition 𝘋𝘢𝘴 𝘒𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 signed by Marx!

Happy #marginaliamonday! This medieval man has been chasing away a moth for over 700 years... Clearly some things never change!🦋 (Trinity College MS B.11.22)

Did you know that Florence Nightingale had a soft spot for the Brontë sisters' poems? In this letter to Richard Monckton Milnes, she asks to borrow his copy of 𝘗𝘰𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘳, 𝘌𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘉𝘦𝘭𝘭. Anne’s poem “The Captive Dove” especially moved her. (Houghton 18/136)

On this #BastilleDay, we get a glimpse into revolutionary history with the signature of one of the most influential figures of the French Revolution, Maximilien Robespierre. He signed this passport in May 1794, just two months before his own execution. Trinity College: Cullum P 176

☀️It's a sunny (and hot!) day in Cambridge today, as we look forward to welcoming thousands of prospective students for the University Open Days. 🥛If you are visiting Trinity, make sure you pop by the Wren, and don't forget to stay hydrated!

W is for Wren Library and their window view #WrenLibrary @trincolllibcam.bsky.social

These beautiful pressed seaweeds are the work of 19th-century botanist Amelia Griffiths. Sent to Dawson Turner, writer of 𝘚𝘺𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘪, around 1808, this volume is currently on display as part of our exhibition 𝘐𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵: 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦’𝘴 𝘍𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘻𝘦𝘳𝘴.

We had an unexpected visitor at the library yesterday!🐦 Some of our librarians turned into temporary bird rescuers when this little fellow got stuck in the roof. With some teamwork, Otto (as we named him) was rescued, had a little rest, then flew off into the gardens once again.

Congratulations to all our students graduating today! Everyone at the Library wishes you the very best for the future. 🍾🥂 Academic dress has a long history in Cambridge, and these students from 1862 are rocking the same look students wear today! (Trinity College, X.26.31)

This brilliant chess problem was composed by Vladimir Nabokov for publication in The Trinity Review (Lent Term, 1969). Recently catalogued, the handwritten manuscript offers a glimpse into Nabokov’s enduring passion for the game. Using his key below, can you find the mate in two? (Add. MS a/772)

From tomorrow, the Wren Library welcomes a brand-new exhibition: 'In Her Element: Stories of Science's Female Trailblazers'.⚗️Highlights include Mary Somerville's letters, Hertha Ayrton's papers, and Lise Meitner's drafts. As always, we are open to visitors from 12-2pm!